Managing Personal Injury Cases : The Critical Time Window

When meeting with a possible personal injury client initially, instruct him to keep in constant contact with you with any pertinent case history. It is critical to start working on the file right away to best serve the plaintiff as well as to reinforce the importance of your services. Repeatedly admonish your client not to talk to anyone regarding the civil case except the authorities, without your express permission.

Third-party witnesses must be interviewed as soon as. The scene of the accident must be reviewed and photograph before it is altered. Remind your client that torn and blood-stained garments or other evidences must not be thrown away at the hospital. Bruises and other physical manifestations of the injury must be photographed immediately.

The injured party must be make aware that the insurance company's main concern will be to defend a claim for damages in the insurance company's favor. The defendant must be informed that the timetable for filing claims and acknowledgment of receipt of the letter is limited to 21 days. The claim letter must be send in duplicate and the defendant must send a copy to the insurance company. Review the accuracy of all the medical records with your client before they are submitted. Take your time with the review of the records. The insurance companies will attach much more weight to a report that comes from a physician than one from non-medical staff.

Remind the client orally and in writing that "based on the facts as they appear in the present time, it appears that he has a meritorious case. That is why, it is impossible to value the case until the full extent of personal injury, the need for treatment, damages, and losses are known.